Drywall & Plastering

Key Features

Drywall and Plastering in NYC

Drywall and plaster work forms the canvas on which every other design element is displayed. Walls and ceilings must be smooth, flat, and properly finished for paint, wallpaper, and trim to look their best. In NYC, where pre-war apartments have original horsehair plaster that may be cracking, bowing, or deteriorating after a century of use, and postwar apartments have standard drywall that accumulates damage over decades, professional wall and ceiling work is a critical component of any renovation or design project.

Our drywall and plastering team handles new drywall installation for gut renovations, plaster repair and restoration for pre-war buildings, skim coating for a smooth modern finish over old plaster or textured drywall, ceiling repair and smoothing, and custom wall treatments like venetian plaster and specialty textures. We deliver Level 5 drywall finishes — the highest quality standard — as our default for all painted surfaces.

Plaster Repair vs. Drywall in NYC Apartments

Pre-war NYC apartments typically have lime plaster over wood lath, a construction method that creates beautiful, solid walls but is prone to cracking, water damage, and separation from the lath over time. We repair plaster in place whenever possible, preserving the thick, sound-dampening walls that are part of pre-war buildings' character. For areas with extensive damage, we remove the old plaster and install new drywall, feathering the transition to match the surrounding wall thickness.

For postwar apartments and new construction, drywall is the standard wall material. We install, tape, mud, and sand drywall to the finish level appropriate for the final surface treatment. Paint requires a Level 4 or Level 5 finish. Wallpaper can tolerate Level 3. Our finishers are skilled at achieving perfectly smooth surfaces that highlight rather than detract from your interior design.

Key Takeaways

• ✓Level 5 drywall finish is the standard for high-quality painted surfaces in NYC apartments
• ✓Pre-war plaster should be preserved when possible for its sound-dampening qualities
• ✓Skim coating is one of the most impactful upgrades for apartments with rough or cracked plaster
• ✓Proper wall preparation is essential — paint and wallpaper only look as good as the surface beneath them

Frequently Asked Questions